RECENT COMMENTS BY R. K. Blacksher

Columns by R. K. Blacksher

Column by R.K. Blacksher
Exclusive to STR
State propagandists are predictably marking the 10th anniversary of 9/11 with vulgar displays of collectivist self-pity and celebrations of the power and glory of the state and its uniformed agents. The evildoers hate us because we are so good and so free, we are told. There are terrorists hiding around every corner, inside every closet and under every...

Column by R.K. Blacksher
Exclusive to STR
Some people love to lament the popularity of violent video games and rap music. They view this as a sign of our depravity. Other people love to lament the popularity of NASCAR and professional wrestling. They view this as a sign of our stupidity.
Are they right? Does the popularity of these cultural phenomena emblemize the much...

Column by R.K. Blacksher
Exclusive to STR
There are few things more frustrating than engaging in a discussion with a Constitutionalist. It is a very depressing spectacle to observe people who are often very rational descend into the most vulgar style of starry-eyed hero worship when discussing the Founding Fathers and their divine governing document.
Lysander Spooner effectively...

Column by R.K. Blacksher.
Exclusive to STR
In an 1877 essay titled “Against Women’s Suffrage,” Lysander Spooner wrote, “Women are human beings, and consequently have all the natural rights that any human being can have.” These natural rights, Spooner argued, do not include the “right” to use the power of the state to engage in theft and coercion against...

Column by R.K. Blacksher.
Exclusive to STR
Libertarians like to pride themselves on their commitment to individualism. In most cases, this pride is well-deserved. In stark contrast with most other people, libertarians generally have a commitment to individualism that is unique and uncompromising.
Nonetheless, there are a number of people who parade under the libertarian banner who tend to be...

Column by R.K. Blacksher.
Exclusive to STR
There has been a lot of political grandstanding lately about the need to eliminate "waste, fraud, and abuse." The U.S. government’s official “economic stimulus” website has a page where people can report instances of “waste, fraud, and abuse.” There are similar “waste, fraud, and abuse” hotlines...

Column by R.K. Blacksher.
Exclusive to STR
In a recent column for the Center for a Stateless Society about Peter King's hearings on radicalization among American Muslims, Darian Worden writes:
"King says that backing down would mean giving in to that nebulous boogeyman called 'political correctness.'"
This is a perfect illustration of something that has become a very...

Column by R. K. Blacksher.
Exclusive to STR
One can often learn a lot about a person’s weaknesses by the qualities that he most loudly denounces in others. We are all familiar with the cases of “familyvalues” Republicanscheating on their wives and leaders of MADD being arrested on DUI charges. Examples from the world of politics are, of course, too numerous to count. Consider...

Column by new Root Striker R.K. Blacksher.
Exclusive to STR
Apathy is one of the most commonly derided dispositions that an individual can possess. We are constantly inundated with pleas to “get involved” by friends, colleagues, teachers, politicians, and pundits. These pleas come from people of all political persuasions: liberals, conservatives, moderates, greens,...

Column by R.K. Blacksher.
Exclusive to STR
In a recent column for the Center for a Stateless Society about Peter King's hearings on radicalization among American Muslims, Darian Worden writes:
"King says that backing down would mean giving in to that nebulous boogeyman called 'political correctness.'"
This is a perfect illustration of something that has become a very...

Column by R.K. Blacksher
Exclusive to STR
Some people love to lament the popularity of violent video games and rap music. They view this as a sign of our depravity. Other people love to lament the popularity of NASCAR and professional wrestling. They view this as a sign of our stupidity.
Are they right? Does the popularity of these cultural phenomena emblemize the much...

Column by R. K. Blacksher.
Exclusive to STR
One can often learn a lot about a person’s weaknesses by the qualities that he most loudly denounces in others. We are all familiar with the cases of “familyvalues” Republicanscheating on their wives and leaders of MADD being arrested on DUI charges. Examples from the world of politics are, of course, too numerous to count. Consider...

Column by R.K. Blacksher
Exclusive to STR
There are few things more frustrating than engaging in a discussion with a Constitutionalist. It is a very depressing spectacle to observe people who are often very rational descend into the most vulgar style of starry-eyed hero worship when discussing the Founding Fathers and their divine governing document.
Lysander Spooner effectively...

Column by R.K. Blacksher.
Exclusive to STR
There has been a lot of political grandstanding lately about the need to eliminate "waste, fraud, and abuse." The U.S. government’s official “economic stimulus” website has a page where people can report instances of “waste, fraud, and abuse.” There are similar “waste, fraud, and abuse” hotlines...

Column by R.K. Blacksher.
Exclusive to STR
In an 1877 essay titled “Against Women’s Suffrage,” Lysander Spooner wrote, “Women are human beings, and consequently have all the natural rights that any human being can have.” These natural rights, Spooner argued, do not include the “right” to use the power of the state to engage in theft and coercion against...

Column by R.K. Blacksher.
Exclusive to STR
Libertarians like to pride themselves on their commitment to individualism. In most cases, this pride is well-deserved. In stark contrast with most other people, libertarians generally have a commitment to individualism that is unique and uncompromising.
Nonetheless, there are a number of people who parade under the libertarian banner who tend to be...

Column by new Root Striker R.K. Blacksher.
Exclusive to STR
Apathy is one of the most commonly derided dispositions that an individual can possess. We are constantly inundated with pleas to “get involved” by friends, colleagues, teachers, politicians, and pundits. These pleas come from people of all political persuasions: liberals, conservatives, moderates, greens,...

Column by R.K. Blacksher.
Exclusive to STR
In an 1877 essay titled “Against Women’s Suffrage,” Lysander Spooner wrote, “Women are human beings, and consequently have all the natural rights that any human being can have.” These natural rights, Spooner argued, do not include the “right” to use the power of the state to engage in theft and coercion against...